Remembering a friend: Legion Riders remember patriot

Saturday

Fred “Butch” Lee Ohmart, Jr., spent his life serving his country and fellow Americans.

Those efforts came to an end Wednesday, when he died at his home after a long illness.

Fred “Butch” Lee Ohmart, Jr., spent his life serving his country and fellow Americans.
Those efforts came to an end Wednesday, when he died at his home after a long illness.

Ohmart served in the Army from 1972 to 1978, but his patriotism didn’t end there.

Ohmart was a founding member of the Post 81 American Legion Riders.

“It meant the world to him to be an American Legion Rider and a Patriot Guard member,” Deb Lynch Ohmart, Butch’s wife, said. “He put every possible effort into it.”

Ohmart had served as director of the Legion Riders for the past year and stayed extremely involved in the local and state level of the organization.

“A good number of people across the state knew Butch,” Steve Seymour, Legion Rider member, said. “If they were a Legion Rider, they probably ran across him at one point or another.”

Ohmart enjoyed bringing honor and dignity to the newer group of veterans.

“He really believed in the veterans and the Armed Forces, past and present,” Steve said. “He believed in what we’re doing and believed that every veteran deserved a great deal of respect.

“He will be sorely missed.”

Brad Seymour agreed.

“He lived the Legion Riders and the Patriot Guard,” Brad said, “making sure that the young vets coming back got treated with respect. Of course, then the fallen vets, making sure they were honored and respected also.”

“It all came from the heart, everything he did,” Ken Deere, fellow Legion Rider, said. “It wasn’t a big show thing.”

Even when they had a welcome home for a soldier during the Celebration of Freedom, he showed wanted to show his respect.

By that point, Ohmart was in a wheelchair, but he made sure he was at the event and he stood up and shook the soldier’s hand.

“That was just his passion,” he said.

Deb said that the camaraderie and friendships they developed through the Legion Riders was priceless.

“He took great pride in participating in homecomings and sendoffs of our military personnel but even greater pride in honoring the contributions of our fallen heroes and their families at their funerals, helping to insure the peace and respect so ultimately deserved,” she said.

Deere shared one story that came to mind about Ohmart.

They were in Canton for the annual Legion Riders meeting last year, and Ohmart became known as the guy who did the strip tease.

“He only took his shirt off, but the story got bigger and bigger,” Deere recalled. “He got to be known as the strip tease.”

And if someone would say something about the guy who did the strip tease, Ohmart would say, “that’s me.”

“He was full of life and enjoyed it,” Deere said.

Several people described Ohmart similarly.

“We’ve set and reflected on our friendship with Butch and we all agree that if you were with Butch and you weren’t having a good time it was your own fault,” Steve said.

“He had a heart that was as big as he was,” Deere added. “he had this real rough look to him, but he was nothing but a big teddy bear. Anything he could do for anybody, he would do it. He was always the first one there.”

That was exemplified during his treatment for his cancer.

He was told they had a study program for a treatment, that even if it didn’t help him, it could help someone else in the long run.

“He said, ‘that’s what I want to do,’” Deere said. “That gives you an idea of what kind of person he was. He was just a big, giving, caring person, and he was funny.”

“If he told you he had your back, you didn’t have to worry about it,” Brad added, “because he was a man of his word. He was a good friend.”

Deb also described him as “the life of the party.”

“A patriot through and through,” she said. “And he never met a stranger. He just had a real zest for life and lived it to the fullest and made the most of the time he had.

“Butch was a friend to all, never met a stranger, and had an infectious laugh that put a smile on your face. From missions with the American Legion Riders to working Bingo at the Post on Fridays and Saturdays, he put a smile on everybody's face, making the most of every situation. We were even married at a Legon Rider wedding!”

She said she was the Legion Post commander when he became the Legion Rider director and he enjoyed introducing her as the commander.

Family also was important to Ohmart.

“His two granddaughters were his pride and joy,” Brad said. “Every chance he could he would spend time with them.”

His granddaughters, Jade, 4, and Montana, 2, live in Baxter Springs. He also had two sons, Gabe and wife Chris of Augusta and Frank and wife Angel of Baxter Springs.

Funeral services will be held for Ohmart at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church. Burial will follow at the Elmwood Cemetery in Augusta.

“I know he’s riding in the sky now,” Deere said. “He has to be.”

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